I was just curious to see if I was the only one that still uses the old 91 GMCVs. We have 7 getting reinspected this month. Still running very well with 100k plus. My oldest is 90 Chevy/BB with a 8.2, finally fixed all the leaks.

We still have more then 100 1988 GMC Waynes in service with the Detroit Diesel 8.2L's, and they are doing great. many were retired due to age this past summer, however they are still wonderful. Our oldest buses are 1987 Ford Waynes, and one 1987 International Ward.

I'm sure some Crown operators will probably better this, but we still have 11 1982 All-American FEs that are still in the game, 6 of which are regular route buses (mostly for short, local routes with no hills to climb). We also have 6 1984s, 3 of which are assigned. Some of our drivers won't drive anything else! These buses are averaging 260-280,000 miles. Most with replaced engines. Still mechanically and cosmetically sound!

We never have a set duty for a bus from year to year. It seems that we assign a bus as a spare when it starts to accumulate more mileage than the rest of the buses of the same year model. There's always a variety of buses that aren't assigned to routes one year, but might be in regular duty the next. The C2s are the first exception to this... We got them this summer and normally we put new buses into service right away, however these have been dubbed as buses for field trips and subbing only. Though that's not to stop a couple drivers stealing them away on occasion.

Local District I know the TD at:1985 Carpenter International- 6.9L/AT-545/Hydro (5 row lift bus, ON REGULAR ROUTE (to run up the miles), he's waiting for state funding to dump it, and rumor is this is its last year)1988 Thomas International DT360/AT-545/Air (Again on Regular routes for their final year in the fleet due to driver request.)

At my yard it's two 1993 Blue Bird Internationals which are used as spare and trip buses. They are 71 passenger, equipped with the DT466 and air brakes. Our other spares are three 2000 International (Amtran) /Internationals equipped with the DT466, hydraulic brakes, and tinted windows. The Amtrans rarely get used though... even though the Birds are 7 years older, all the drivers would rather use them because they have air brakes and that's what we're used to.

-Dave

If all your problems are behind you... you must be a school bus driver.

Our oldest buses are 1990 IHC Wayne's. 1 is used for a preschool run and the other for a spare, and is sometimes used for the vocational school shuttle. Just last week we were using it for the vocational shuttle anda kid setting in the back shattered one of the side windows. The way they said he done it amazed me, they said he had broken off white pieces from around a spark plug and was flicking it at the window and that was what done it. I never knew that those white pieces could shatter a window like that.

If we went back to when I first joined 3ish years ago, we had almost double the number of 80s buses still in operation....1980 IHC/Superior1982 Chevy/Carpenter (was in the process of being replaced though)1980 IHC/1994Carpenter1985 IHC/Carpenter1988 GMC/Carpenter1988 GMC/CarpenterHard to believe we had that many spares that long ago too...So yeah our oldest is a 1980 International rebuilt.

My Ford Can Turn On $50, Can Your Int? ~Ford Buses - Gems To The Eyes~

Our oldest bus is a 1982, GMC, 65 passenger, Ward Volunteer. It is very seldom used anymore but is there just in case it is needed. We also have several 1974, GMC, Ward Volunteers on the lot that are used for spare parts. They are also strategically placed to protect the route buses from having broken windows.

Well now that's old 1982! The oldest we have in our used bus (retired) lot is a 1978 Intl with a carpenter body. We use it as storage for the bodyshop, it still runs with a jump. The 1991 Chevy/BB we use on the route are still A+ shape! I just got 7 through inspection.

“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.” Neil deGrasse Tyson

Our oldie but goodie is a '91 IH Conventional 360 with a Allison 540 auto and hydraulic brakes. We just replaced the brake lines and sent it on a 300 mile field trip. It cranks up faster than any bus in the fleet. But tends to get used less in the summer due to the 21 window air conditioner vs the compressor driven A/C on the newer busses.

It was believed to've been retired a couple years ago, but apparently it was relegated to a sub bus and underwent a major suspension/drivetrain rebuild.

It still is seen driving around Shelton from time to time. It used to have a Spicer 5-speed manual, but it was converted to an Allison automatic.

Here's some photos of it taken from my website - The Gillig Transit Coach/Pacific SchoolCoach Resource. These photos were taken in the summer of 1998, and both buses alongside of it were retired in 2001.

Our oldest buses, which are hardly used, are 2 79 Thomas Fords with the 370. We also have an 80 model Wayne GMC with the 350 and a 1985 BB Chevy with the 366. Our main buses are the 1990 Ward GMC with the 8.2L detroit diesel and the 1984 BB International with the 9 liter. Of course my favorite is the International.

So it's a 1985 model and you insist it's 24 years old? Do you think maybe the guy had a slip of the tongue? hehe Honestly I don't know any district in Michigan who is still hanging on to 1985 models. I got ahold of my used 1985 bus six years ago. And a certain district I know of that held on to buses for the most rediculous amount of time got rid of them a few years ago!